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HOME GROUNDS FACT SHEET
Nassau County
Horticulture Program
Eisenhower Park
East Meadow, N.Y. 11554
Cooperative Extension
Nassau County
Horticultural Oils
Horticultural Oils — Not Just for Dormant
Treatments Anymore!
One of the oldest insecticides, petroleum oil, is still an
effective means of controlling certain insect pests.
Modern products provide much better insecticidal efficacy and greater safety to plants. At a time when
people object to using synthetic chemical insecticides,
oils are an acceptable alternative. However, a good
understanding of their nature, mode of action, uses
and limitations is necessary.
The many names may be confusing:
• dormant oil
• spray oil
• summer oil
• petroleum oil
• superior oil
• mineral oil
• miscible oil
• white mineral oil
• emulsive oil
• paraffinic oil
• spray oil emulsion
• insecticidal oil
• horticultural oil
Understanding the Nature of Oils
Horticultural oils are poorly understood by most users.
The product labels give little information on the contents, and the label uses vary greatly from product to
product. There has been little developmental research
on pests of ornamental plants; most of our technology
comes from research on tree fruits in New York,
Florida, California and Texas.
Oils are complex hydrocarbons that vary greatly
depending on geographic sources of crude and the
refining processes used. Mineral oil is defined as any
oil found in the rock strata of the earth. Petroleum oil
is synonymous and a more common term of reference.
Napthenic and asphaltic oils are aromatic, highly unsaturated and used for motor fuels, fuel oil and solvents. They are highly toxic to plants. The paraffinic
oils are highly saturated, used as lubricating oils, and
are the base from which horticultural oils are refined.
They are safe to use on plants. Horticultural oils are
those paraffinic oils refined especially for use on plants
to control insects. The term white mineral oil refers to
any of various colorless, tasteless oils from petroleum
used for pharmaceutical or medicinal purposes such
as laxatives, baby oil, hand lotions, and petroleum jelly
(vaseline, petrolatum); these oils are completely saturated.
Horticultural oil technology advanced markedly from
1945 to 1970. Prior to that time, oil sprays were limited
to use on plants before buds opened, hence the
common term “dormant oil”. They were high in viscosity (heavy) and often called 100 second oils. Researchers using this knowledge of components that
increase insecticidal action and safety to plant tissues,
developed specifications for oil that could be used
when foliage is present.
Its use on green plants led to the term “summer oil.”
It can be used both in the dormant and growing
season. Dormant oil and summer oil refer to timing of
the application, not the type of oil product. Although
some oils are intended only for dormant use, nowadays most horticultural oils can be used during both
the dormant and growing seasons. Read the label.
When oils are applied to plants as a spray, they
must be mixed with water. An emulsifier is essential
and is added to the oil by the producer when it is
formulated. It is included as an inert ingredient on the
label, not stated separately. Some oil products are
called “miscible oil” or “emulsive oil” to indicate they
contain an emulsifier. Decades ago, suppliers provided ready-to-apply oil spray that was called a spray
emulsion or white oil emulsion. This is no longer the
case.
In summary, modern horticultural oils are derived
from highly saturated paraffinic petroleum and refined
to the following specifications:
• UR, percent (minimum - 92)
92-96
• Viscosity, seconds, Saybolt
(maximum - 90)
60-90
• Gravity, degrees API
30-35
• Distillation range, degrees F.
412-468
• Flash point, degrees F. (one example)
345
The higher the UR, the safer the oil. The lower the
viscosity and distillation range, the lighter the oil. All
Cornell University Recommendations are based on the
UR 92 minimum and 412-435 distillation range.
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Mode of Action
Oil acts as a contact insecticide until it evaporates.
It interferes with respiration more physically than
chemically. Insects and mites are affected in 3
ways:
1) prevention of gaseous exchange, disrupting
respiration,
2) interference with membrane function and some
toxicity to cells from oil penetration and
3) interference with feeding of certain leafhoppers
and aphids on oil-covered surfaces.
Oil sprays are effective only against exposed
eggs and insects that are coated with a layer of oil.
The oil must be present long enough to suffocate
the pest without doing the same to the plant. The
heavier the oil, the more effective it is in control and
the more likely it is to cause plant damage. One
way to achieve effective results is to use the lighter
oils for both dormant and summer treatments and
use higher concentrations in the dormant season.
Often the question is asked about spraying in the
fall when the leaves have dropped or in winter when
the weather turns warm for extended periods. Generally, in the northeast, oil should not be applied
after early September. In the fall, plants have not
“hardened off” and injury often results. In the fall and
winter when insects are in hibernation, the metabolic
rate is very low, as is the demand for oxygen. Oils
evaporate before the insects are killed and poor
control is the result.
Primary Targets for Horticultural Oils
Oil sprays are effective for a relatively limited number of pests, but they are some of the more difficult
to control with synthetic chemical insecticides: spider mites, rust mites, scale insects, mealybugs,
aphids, adelgids, psyllids, whiteflies, a few caterpillar pests and certain bugs, a number of which are
on fruit. Dormant treatments are directed primarily
at mites or mite eggs, scale insects and eggs of
overwintering aphids. Summer treatments are effective against other stages that are present. Gypsy
moth tent caterpillar egg masses are not affected.
Phytotoxicity
Plants appear to have inherent variability in sensitivity to oil sprays. Little is known about which is
which, since there are so many kinds of ornamental
plants and so few studies to obtain quantitative data.
Generally, modern oil products are very safe to use
on plants, and many of the older cautions for plant
injury still on the labels may not be valid. Limited
studies where more than 130 plants were treated
with summer oil showed little or no injury. Some
arborists have used oils continuously, according to
surveys, without problems.
Many factors may contribute to phytotoxic effects
of oils on plants; some are well known from fruit tree
research. They include moisture deficit in leaves,
high humidity, high temperature, treating very young
foliage and genetic variability in the plants.
There is very little documented evidence that
proper applications of oil result in phytotoxicity.
Avoid spraying oil when temperatures and humidity
are high or when plants are under drought or other
stress.
Plant damage may also result if material is
sprayed after it is allowed to sit and separate in the
spray hose. Recirculate the spray through the tank
to restore the emulsion before applying.
Oils should not be applied in combination with,
before or after certain other pesticides. Check
labels carefully for precautions. If in doubt, test by
spraying a small area first and watch for injury after
a few days. However, it is well known that improper
application can cause damage: overdosing, wrong
timing, oil emulsion breakdown, using oil with incompatible materials, (especially any sulfur compounds) and other misuses. Plant injury may be
twig dieback, leaf burn and killing of new growth.
At the present time there is some indication that
the following are oil sensitive: maples, hickories and
black walnut (dormant sprays); smoke tree and
azalea (certain varieties) (summer sprays); and
cryptomeria (both).
Plants showing a tendency toward sensitivity
include: beech, redbud, spruce and douglas fir
(dormant); savin junipers and photinia (summer)
and Japanese holly (both). Oil sprays will remove
the bluish bloom from needles of conifers, especially blue spruce and similar types. It may take 1 to
2 years for new growth to return the natural bloom
to the trees.
Applying Oil Sprays
The proper concentration for spraying varies since
there are differences between oil products in terms
of lightness (viscosity), distillation rate and intended
use. There are also differences among insect
groups and species in sensitivity to oils.
In general, the lightest oils should be used at the
rate of 3-4% for dormant spraying and 2-3% for
summer sprays, using the higher rate for hard-tocontrol pests; 1% less is suggested if oil-sensitive
plants must be treated. A simple rule of thumb is to
use 2% for summer treatments and 3% for dormant,
but remember this is oversimplification. The safest
approach is to follow the label directions explicitly.
Dosage rates for oils are based on volume; thus, a
1% spray is 1 gallon of oil in 100 gallons of water
(2.66 Tablespoons per gallon.)
In general, armored scales, such as oystershell,
obscure, calico and euonymus scales, are more
difficult to control with dormant applications of oil
than soft scales, such as European fruit lecanium,
Fletcher and cottony soft scales. Addition of insecticide to the oil may improve control of armored
scales, but for serious infestations, best results will
be obtained with oil or other labeled insecticides
directed at the crawler (newly-hatched) stages.
Proper timing can be determined through observations or use of Growing Degree Days (GDD).
Oils with insecticides added are more hazardous
to handle, since oil enhances skin penetration.
Horticultural oils have the advantages of safety to
the applicator and the environment, minimal effect
on natural enemies, effectiveness against inactive
scales and eggs of insects and mites. They can be
applied to extend the spraying season in early
spring and are an acceptable alternative for people
who do not choose to use chemical insecticides.
“This publication contains pesticide recommendations. Changes in
pesticide regulations occur constantly and human errors are still
possible. Some materials mentioned may no longer be available,
and some uses may no longer be legal. All pesticides distributed,
sold or applied in New York State must be registered with the New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
Questions concerning the legality and/or registration status for
pesticide use in New York State should be directed to the appropriate Cornell Cooperative Extension specialist or your regional DEC
office (631) 444-0340. Read the label before applying any pesticide. Cornell Cooperative Extension and its employees assume no
liability for the effectiveness or results of any chemicals for pesticide usage. No endorsement of products is made or implied.”
Reference: “Horticultural Oils,” Virginia Tech Insect Notes
#174, by John A. Weidhaas, Jr., Extension Entomologist,
and edited by Dr. Warren T. Johnson, Department of
Entomology, Cornell University, May 6, 1988.
Information for this fact sheet contributed by Dan Gilrein,
Cornell Cooperative Extension Educator, Suffolk County
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